Researching a new Dreadnought, what to shortlist ?

[SalFromChatham]

In your price range… no particular order… I’d want to have a blast trying all these out.

Taylor AD27
Taylor AD17
Martin D15m
Martin DSS 15m
Eastman E10
Eastman E10ss
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J45, Hummingbird
Gibson G45 series.
Yamaha FG5

The DSS 15m, even with its mahogany top, is LOUD. It really sounds close to a D18. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

If money were no object? J45 or D18 and be done with it.

[Yamaholic]

Originally Posted by SalFromChatham

In your price range… no particular order… I’d want to have a blast trying all these out.

Taylor AD27
Taylor AD17
Martin D15m
Martin DSS 15m
Eastman E10
Eastman E10ss
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J45, Hummingbird
Gibson G45 series.
Yamaha FG5

The DSS 15m, even with its mahogany top, is LOUD. It really sounds close to a D18. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

If money were no object? J45 or D18 and be done with it.

The Epiphone is a fantastic price and by all accounts a fab guitar

[Bob from Brooklyn]

Truthfully if you just got a new guitar I would enjoy it while saving up for a Standard Series Martin guitar.

[Yamaholic]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Bob

Truthfully if you just got a new guitar I would enjoy it while saving up for a Standard Series Martin guitar.

Yeah, i wont be doing anything this year, unless i see a used bargain standard

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by NewbieNeil

Thanks for all the comments. I think to conclude (as the op) the M-36 does really excite me, so i need to save some pennies and get to demo one and compare to a d-18, I suspect the M-36 will have better playability for me with minimal tone sacrifice.

Also I might just pick-up a used Eastman Slope shoulder dread along the way....

Sigh. Neil, you said in your initial question that "it must be a dread".

An M36 (rare) is a lovely instrument but a long way away from a dread.

The so called "slope-shoulder" is not a dread, it is a Gibson style jumbo. That means different bracing, different tonality and a short scale.

The only genuine "slope shoulder" dreads are the original Martin 12 fret Dreadnoughts like I play. See below.

[Yamaholic]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Sigh. Neil, you said in your initial question that "it must be a dread".

An M36 (rare) is a lovely instrument but a long way away from a dread.

The so called "slope-shoulder" is not a dread, it is a Gibson style jumbo. That means different bracing, different tonality and a short scale.

The only genuine "slope shoulder" dreads are the original Martin 12 fret Dreadnoughts like I play. See below.

Change happens :o)

[Honkycat]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Sigh. Neil, you said in your initial question that "it must be a dread".

An M36 (rare) is a lovely instrument but a long way away from a dread.

The so called "slope-shoulder" is not a dread, it is a Gibson style jumbo. That means different bracing, different tonality and a short scale.

The only genuine "slope shoulder" dreads are the original Martin 12 fret Dreadnoughts like I play. See below.

Haha, having watched a LOT of your videos, I wondered if this might be an irritant!

[phydaux]

Originally Posted by SalFromChatham

In your price range… no particular order… I’d want to have a blast trying all these out.

Taylor AD27
Taylor AD17
Martin D15m
Martin DSS 15m
Eastman E10
Eastman E10ss
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J45, Hummingbird
Gibson G45 series.
Yamaha FG5

The DSS 15m, even with its mahogany top, is LOUD. It really sounds close to a D18. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

If money were no object? J45 or D18 and be done with it.

No mahogany body D-16?

[phydaux]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Hi, fellow Brit here, and long time Martin player, who has now pretty much moved on.

The "Martin sound" is primarily the bass biased sound of Martin dreadnoughts and OMs and hog (mahogany topped) guitars will always sound "warm" but won't have the projection or power of a spruce topped guitar.

A Martin D28 or d18 would be your ideal step up, but even used might be outside your target budget.

however, the brand that it really making a definite impression on the market now is Eastman.

I changed from Martin to Collings some years ago and love them but my last two acquisitions were Eastmans and I have to say that I'm VERY impressed.

I'd suggest that you look at their range and particularly at the E10-D (hog back and sides) or the E20-0D (rosewood)

Here a couple of comparison vids :



https://youtu.be/d3bDGkcpFqs



https://youtu.be/67z4Vgz8WGM

I think the Eastmans are within your budget, and ....very good!

Is it really fair to compare an Eastman E-10D to a Martin D-18? The Martin is twice the price. Wouldn't a more fair comparison be a mahogany body Martin D-16?

[phydaux]

And isn't the E-10D a higher tier guitar than the E-6D?

[Smattingly]

Originally Posted by UncleJesse

Alvarez MD60BG is hard to beat. Eastmans are also good.

I am sucker for the Mahogany/Spruce combo. I am in agreement! I love my Alvarez MD60BG and for $600 I would put it against any of the $3000 dreadnoughts. However, my other top dreads in lower price range...

Any Epiphone made by Gibson
Seagull - original S6 or Coastline - This one has a cherry back and sides. Can't beat for the price and the electronics are decent (I own a Coastline in addition to my Alvarez)